May 25, 2021
What dock dealer has your next dock?
Selecting the right dock dealer is the most important part of finding the right dock for your property. You need a dealer with experience and a great reputation.
How experienced is Pier & Waterfront Solutions?
The combined knowledge of our staff, some of whom go back over 25 years, means we have encountered virtually every type of situation on the Door County Peninsula. PWS selected only the best dock lines to handle.
Our goal is not to have the most locations, just the best equipment, trained employees and knowledgeable staff. The rest will take care of itself.
PWS has provided docks for small ponds, inland lakes, floating docks for soft, muddy bottoms, and standing docks for sandy beaches and large boulders. PWS docks range from lightweight aluminum to galvanized steel docks so heavy it takes a crane or All-Terrain Forklift to move them.
Rest assured, PWS offers the correct solution for your next dock.
What about the PWS reputation?
Talk to your neighbors. They usually know of all the dock dealers in Door County. In most cases, Pier & Waterfront Solutions will come up as the premier dealer.
Some products PWS offers come with a 15 year structural warranty. All of our products come with the backing of our years of knowledge and professional staff. PWS provides professional guidance when it comes to selecting your new pier or dock.
There are NO high-pressure salespeople at PWS.
PWS has installations along both sides of the Door County peninsula. We usually can find a close-by installation to assure you that we can handle your situation. PWS also uses satellite images to help understand your requirements.
PWS is the only dock dealer in the area who responded to the high water and strong storms of recent years, by providing rip-rap installations to protect your shoreline with our own crews.
Unique challenges
Each body of water has unique challenges for dock owners. Before considering a dock, we need to have an idea of what you are facing. That’s why we ask questions when you first approach us. We need to know the requirements you want.
The type of dock used in a sheltered area generally will not work on Lake Michigan waters. New to the area? PWS can make recommendations for the entire peninsula.
Experienced boaters will tell you the “Bay” conditions can change rapidly. The water could have a mirror-like surface at 11 A.M. and be a raging storm with 4′ waves an hour later. (See https://wisconsinpws.com/weather-radar-boaters/). That’s why you need the best solution for your location.
What about decking?
PWS offers a comprehensive range of decking – from wood to concrete to Flow-Through decking. Most decking comes in more than one color to meet your individual needs. Currently, the most popular colors are tan and gray.
Are there different dock widths available?
PWS offers widths ranging from 3′ to the legal limit of 8′ wide, depending on the style. Our most popular sizes range from 4′ to 6′ wide. In galvanized steel, the 5′ widths have become very popular.
Does Pier & Waterfront Solutions (PWS) do installations?
Lift & Dock installation
PWS has the widest range of equipment and the best reputation to handle your installation. We have (5) very dependable ATFs (All-Terrain Vehicles) capable of going into over 3′ of water. Our crew leaders are experienced and trained to handle every situation.
Don’t have beach access for our ground equipment?
“Small Barge”
PWS features a 40′ barge equipped with a deck mounted, moving 60′ crane for installs and removals. The barge can pick up your dock or lifts and place them on top of most cliffs to protect them from winter ice damage.
Pier & Waterfront Solutions has you covered.
Where can you find Pier & Waterfront Solutions?
Pier & Waterfront Solutions, 7325 St. Hwy 57, is located 3 miles south of Sturgeon Bay. Go 1 mile PAST the intersection with County MM (heading north). Look on the right at the intersection of Idlewild Road and Hwy 57.
PWS is
Pier & Waterfront Solutions remains “open” year-round.
The Covid-19 virus is beginning to wane. We can only hope people will continue to get the vaccine to help slow this illness. We continue to conduct as much business as possible by email, text, or phone.
Site visits continue as usual. When making in-person contacts, we follow “social distancing” guidelines when possible.
PWS display yard – OPEN 24-7
Red Tag
PWS‘s display area is always open for you to examine at your leisure. All displays available for sale have a numbered, red tag on them. Want more information on something you saw in our yard? Please reference that number when you inquire.
PWS provides estimates by email to make the process faster, safer, and paperless.
Call, message, or email Jerry with any questions.
Jerry Englebert
Contact Jerry at 920-493-4404 for more information or use this link.
Apr 27, 2021
In a March 30, 2021 article, PWS announced the latest addition to our dock & boat lift install equipment. Namely – our “small barge.” We now have a much clearer picture to show you.
The “Small Barge” measures 12′ x 40′, so it’s not so small after all. Powered by (2) – 225 HP motors it requires a semi to transport it.
Where has it been since that article?
“Small Barge”
It’s been undergoing retrofitting and adjustments until we were ready to launch it.
In this picture, you see the barge supported on the four downriggers. The downriggers suspend the barge above the water to weather storms and stabilize the barge during installations. With the entire barge suspended in the air we are able to handle everything nature can throw at us.
What does the addition of the “Small Barge” mean for you?
It may be showing up on your waterfront. No, this is not meant to just haul rock or boulders like our other barge.
The “small barge” installs and removes docks and lifts only. Remember, many times its difficult to get our ATF’s down on the beach to do installations. Even if we do get to some of these locations, we could sustain damage to the undercarriage. That’s a costly situation.
The “small barge” has a 60-foot knuckle boom (shown here with only 3 of the lengths opened). There are four more lengths yet to be extended. This allows us to reach your equipment on the shores without the use of our ATF’s.
We can raise your boat lift or dock and swing around to install it where its needed.
In Fall, we return your equipment to the shore without damaging the lawn. Water soaked lawns are no longer a problem.
Another unique feature
Notice that the knuckle boom will move forward and backwards on a “track” in the middle of the barge. The entire boom can move about 30′ forward for extra reach. Combined with a very shallow draft its an innovative and faster way to install on Green Bay.
PWS always is looking for ways to complete the installs faster each year. By becoming more efficient we can service more people.
The recent closure of Port-A-Pier makes it even more important than ever to find ways to handle the extra workload.
You can depend on Pier & Waterfront Solutions to continue to innovate to handle your needs.
One Final Update
Not to be left behind, PWS has also completed the expansion of our large Barge. The addition of the middle section means we now have a 36′ wide x 45′ Barge. That’s a 33% increase in the overall size and capacity.
Enlarged 36′ x 45″ Barge
Where can I find Pier & Waterfront Solutions?
Pier & Waterfront Solutions, 7325 St. Hwy 57, is located 3 miles south of Sturgeon Bay. Go 1 mile PAST the intersection with County MM (heading north). Look on the right at the next corner – Idlewild Road and Hwy 57.
Pier & Waterfront Solutions remains “open” year-round.
The Covid-19 virus continues to spread and affects many people. We are conducting as much business as possible by email, text, or phone.
Site visits continue as usual. When making in-person contacts, we follow “social distancing” guidelines when possible.
PWS display yard – OPEN 24-7
Red Tag
PWS‘s display area is always open for you to examine at your leisure. All displays available for sale have a numbered, red tag on them. Want more information on something you saw in our yard? Please reference that number when you inquire.
PWS provides estimates by email to make the process faster, safer, and paperless.
Call, message, or email Jerry with any questions.
Jerry Englebert
Contact Jerry at 920-493-4404 for more information or use this link.
Apr 20, 2021
Seagulls leaving a mess on your pier?
Seagull mess
Seagulls are looking for a place to rest at the same time as your dock is being installed. Once they get into the habit of eating or sleeping on your dock, getting rid of them is very difficult.
Are seagulls leaving the “leftovers” from their meals on your dock? What about the other harmful “deposits” they leave behind?
PWS has some suggestions to get rid of them.
When should you start to rid yourself of the seagulls?
Start in Early Spring!
Don’t allow seagulls to roust on your dock. Once established, they will habitually return to the same place each night.
Adding deterrents later will have minimal to no effect on them.
What Problems do Seagulls Cause?
Seagulls are noisy, aggressive, and a health hazard to humans. Despite this, the US government has enacted legislation to protect seagulls.
You are not allowed to harass, kill or destroy their nesting areas.
Are Seagulls always coming back to your pier?
If the answer is yes – they found a source of food nearby.
Seagulls Returning for food
Seagulls are territorial and aggressive when it comes to food. Under no circumstances should you feed them. They will return time and time again. They are like a friend who wanted to stay for just a day or two and never left. The difference is they are not your friend.
Remind your visitors not to feed them. Once a seagull finds a source of food, other seagulls will appear.
Don’t leave food containers outside after your parties. Seagulls will return if you do.
What do Seagulls eat?
A seagull’s diet consists of fish, rodents, insects, eggs, earthworms, reptiles, plant items, and even other birds. The seagull is an intelligent bird and very versatile in how they get prey.
The food you leave behind is an easy source for them. The gulls don’t have to scrounge around looking for food if you provide it for them.
When is their nesting season?
Seagulls enter nesting season once per year, and the season lasts for 3 to 5 months. They are highly aggressive during this time. Stay clear of their nests.
These large and noisy birds defend their territories from rivals through aerial attacks and calls. Nesting season is when they are the most boisterous and the most aggressive.
Seagulls are ground-nesting birds taking live food – crabs, small fish – or scavenge as it becomes available. They historically pose control problems near sources of water or food.
Seagulls are intelligent and resourceful birds too. They have a highly developed social structure and a complicated communication method.
They even display mobbing behavior. Seagulls attack would-be intruders (like you) and predators when anything threatens their nest.
How do you get rid of Seagulls humanely?
There are many products on the market that you can use to deter seagulls. See this article for a list of products and where to get them.
Unfortunately, many of these products are ineffective.
Remember this when considering a seagull deterrent. Seagulls do not like anything that disrupts their flight patterns. Simply put, they do not want to get tangled in anything.
Bird wire or something as simple as a fishing line is a humane, discreet, and highly effective control solution for docks.
How does it work? A stainless steel wire or a simple fishing line is reported to be a deterrent to gulls. The wire prevents gulls from landing on docks, boats, and other long surfaces that attract pesky birds.
Check this link for a source for bird wire.
Why are seagulls afraid of wires?
There is another way. Seagulls use a higher UV range than humans to see what’s around them. As a result, they can see underwater without the use of sunglasses like humans require.
They also “see” a metal or nylon fishing line as a bright line, day or night. That line potentially interferes with their flight, plus it alarms them as it moves in the wind.
Seagulls are heavy birds compared to most birds. As a result, they require a clear path to take off. Stringing a fishing line horizontally along your dock can be very effective and inexpensive. Commercial products recommend stringing the line about 7-8 feet above the pier.
It works the same as bird wire and costs much less. The downside to the fishing line is that it needs to be replaced each year and possibly more than once. Hint: string the fishing line from leg to leg and tie it off rather than stringing it the full length in one piece. This way, if one section breaks, it does not take the entire line down. Allow it to move in the wind.
Another deterrent
Seagull deterrent Daddi Long Legs
Daddi Long Legs is another deterrent. It prevents gulls and other large birds from landing in open spaces. Where can you buy this product? Try www.Bird Barrier.com.
How it works: Thin, stainless steel rods wave menacingly in the breeze. Any breeze causes the rods to move and interferes with the seagull’s flight as they attempt to land. Benefits: It is a humane product with plastic tips to prevent injury to humans.
In conclusion
It’s best to use more than one means to get rid of seagulls. Seagulls don’t like to be disturbed while they eat or sleep, but they can see a single device as non-threatening over time. We recommend that you change or move your devices from time to time. They will adapt over time.
Where can I find Pier & Waterfront Solutions?
Pier & Waterfront Solutions, 7325 St. Hwy 57, is located 3 miles south of Sturgeon Bay. Go 1 mile PAST the intersection with County MM (heading north). Look on the right at the next corner – Idlewild Road and Hwy 57.
Pier & Waterfront Solutions remains “open” year-round.
The Covid-19 virus continues to spread and affects many people. We are conducting as much business as possible by email, text, or phone.
Site visits continue as usual. When making in-person contacts, we follow “social distancing” guidelines when possible.
PWS display yard – OPEN 24-7
Red Tag
PWS‘s display area is always open for you to examine at your leisure. All displays available for sale have a numbered, red tag on them. Want more information on something you saw in our yard? Please reference that number when you inquire.
PWS provides estimates by email to make the process faster, safer, and paperless.
Call, message, or email Jerry with any questions.
Jerry Englebert
Contact Jerry at 920-493-4404 for more information or use this link.
Mar 30, 2021
Small barge for PWS
A small Barge is the latest piece of equipment in the Pier & Waterfront Solutions list of tools. No, this is not the same piece of equipment announced last week.
What’s 12′ x 40′?
Our new small barge!
Powered by dual 225 HP engines, the small barge has a moveable 60′ Knuckle Boom. A Semi tractor and trailer deliver the equipment to the launch site and unloads it. The barge then moves under power to the job sites. No pusher boat required.
Small Barge
The small barge is currently undergoing retrofitting. However, it will be ready in time for the install season. Due to space limitations, we were unable to get a better picture for this article.
What’s unique about this latest equipment?
The knuckle boom folds into a compact package on the deck for traveling. The small barge can get in closer to the shoreline.
Four downriggers on the barge fold flat on the deck for transport. Once at the job site, one or more of the downriggers raise vertically and lock in place. The legs are then extended down to the lake bottom to raise and stabilize the barge on the 3′ x 3′ pads.
A rail system built into the barge deck makes it possible for the crane to move forward or backward on the barge. Once in the proper position, the boom extends up to 60′ to pick equipment off the shoreline. No All-Terrain-Forklift required.
Next, the boom with the dock or lift on it rotates around and places the pier or lift where it’s needed.
There will be no need to drive across your lawn on sites when using the small barge.
Where is Pier & Waterfront Solutions?
Pier & Waterfront Solutions, 7325 St. Hwy 57, is located 3 miles south of Sturgeon Bay. Go 1 mile PAST the intersection with County road MM (heading north). Look on the right at the next corner – Idlewild Road and Hwy 57.
Is PWS OPEN?
Pier & Waterfront Solutions remains “open” year-round.
Please use face masks
The Covid virus continues to spread and affects many people. Don’t be one of them.
PWS is conducting as much business as possible by email, text, or phone.
Site visits continue as usual. When making in-person contacts, we follow “social distancing” guidelines when possible.
PWS display yard – OPEN 24-7
PWS‘s display area is always open for you to examine at your leisure. All displays available for sale have a numbered, red tag on them. Want more information on something you saw in our yard? Please reference that number when you inquire.
Red Tag
PWS will provide estimates by email to make the process faster, safer, and paperless.
Call, message, or email us today with any questions.
Call Jerry at 920-493-4404 for more information or use this link.
Mar 23, 2021
A NEW Barge Announcement at PWS
Before we get into the new barge discussion, it seems like a long winter despite it being a mild winter. The virus only added to the winter confinement & misery.
The early disappearance of the ice on Green Bay has lifted our spirits. Everyone has hopes for the approaching Spring.
Yet, nature has a way of thwarting or at least delaying those plans. There is snow again in the forecast for this week. Snow is nature’s way of saying she is still in control and not yet willing to give it up.
Phone Install Requests
For the last few weeks, we had requests for projected install dates. Please be patient. We know from many years of experience that there are snowstorms in our future. Remember, the ice is still on the shorelines. The lack of snow gives the impression the season could start as soon as this week.
In reality, the expected start date is “around” April 1. About two years ago, the season got underway early. After a week of installs, a huge snowstorm put a complete stop to the work for two more weeks. It was a struggle to get all the work done.
What have we done to keep up with installs?
All-Terrain Forklift
What have we done to keep up with the installs? We have added two more ATF’s (All-Terrain Forklift) to our fleet of equipment. The latest addition brings our total to FIVE ATF’s.
Latest Barge addition at PWS
Today, we are announcing the latest addition to Pier & Waterfront Solutions equipment list.
As many of you know, PWS has a large 24′ x 45′ barge used for rip-rap installations. The barge and excavators are also used for dock and lift installs in areas where our ATF’s cannot go. When the need arises, we use the barge and one of our excavators to install docks and lifts. These are challenging areas to access and operate any equipment.
If you’ve driven past our location in the past month or so, you may have seen this.
Barge
The new barge addition will allow us to expand our existing barge size by another 12′ x 45′. When joined with the existing barge, the new barge will be 36′ x 45′. (1,620 sq. ft. – That’s the size of a small house). That gives us increased load capacity to transport more equipment and materials. It will save time and allow us to be more efficient in the future.
The new barge can separated from the original barge for independent use at a later date if needed.
PWS have two experienced barge operators to move this equipment between locations.
Where is Pier & Waterfront Solutions?
Pier & Waterfront Solutions, 7325 St. Hwy 57, is located 3 miles south of Sturgeon Bay. Go 1 mile PAST the intersection with County road MM (heading north). Look on the right at the next corner – Idlewild Road and Hwy 57.
Is PWS OPEN?
Pier & Waterfront Solutions remains “open” year-round.
The Covid virus continues to spread and affects many people. Don’t be one of them.
PWS is conducting as much business as possible by email, text, or phone.
Site visits continue as usual. When making in-person contacts, we follow “social distancing” guidelines when possible.
PWS display yard – OPEN 24-7
Red Tag
PWS‘s display area is always open for you to examine at your leisure. All displays available for sale have a numbered, red tag on them. Want more information on something you saw in our yard? Please reference that number when you inquire.
PWS will provide estimates by email to make the process faster, safer, and paperless.
Call, message, or email us today with any questions.
Call Jerry at 920-493-4404 for more information or use this link.
